Travel

The active travel company with the off-beat name, Pedalers Pub & Grille, offers cyclists a chance to pedal in style to the base of the planet’s highest peak, spectacular Mt Everest.  The new Road to Everest tour is the first cycling tour in Tibet to forsake sleeping under canvas for the comfort of a bed and hot shower each night.

Departing on 16 September 2009, the Road to Everest takes guests on a two wheeled exploration of the regions surrounding Lhasa, capital city of Tibet, exploring ancient temple complexes and remote hot springs.  Then rolls south along the newly paved Everest Highway to the Everest Base camp, where guests may be treated to magnificent views of Chomolungma (the Tibetan name which means ‘Goddess Mother’).

“We are taking advantage of the newly paved Everest Highway and the scattered hotels along its route, to offer a comfortable exploration of Tibet.  Being able to ride lightweight road bikes and relax at night in a bed helps lessen the impact of the altitude.  Breaking from the tradition of mountain biking and camping, we hope to open the doors to more cyclists and adventurous travelers.” says Tom Sheehan, founder and managing director.  He notes that most days involve cycling 40 to 50 miles, plus a shuttle to keep daily exercise to an enjoyable and safe level.

Accommodations on the trip range from very nice hotels to quite simple, but clean guesthouses, with guests enjoying the best that each stop has to offer.  Meals are taken at local restaurants featuring both Tibetan and Han Chinese cuisine for variety.  And in the Pedalers Pub & Grille tradition, trip guides are cyclists from the region, who know and love the areas they lead tours in.

Except for international air, this cycling adventure is all-inclusive of accommodations, most meals, professional local guides, sightseeing and cultural activities, plus airport transfers at $4495 (double occupancy) with a single supplement of $475.  The trip starts and finishes in Lhasa, Tibet.

More details can be found online at:
http://www.pedalerspubandgrille.com/bike_tours/tibet/Road_to_Everest.htm

The active travel company with the funny name, Pedalers Pub & Grille (PP&G), showcases two different faces of Bali on five departures of its seven-day Bali Paradise Ride that moves from suntan beaches into ancient cultures still thriving in off-the-beaten path upland villages and remote coastal hamlets. The departures are Apr 13, May 11, Jun 8, Aug 10, and Sep 14. The per person rate is $1,595 ($390 single supplement).

Moving at the speed of two wheels guests explore remote coastal fishing villages and black sand beaches as well as the jungle-clad interior past emerald rice paddies, towering palm trees and volcanic lakes.

Highlights include the culture of the Bali Aga, supposedly the original inhabitants of Bali who still live by strict social rules, including one that requires you to marry within the village or be cast out. There is a stop in Tenganan, one of the best preserved Bali Aga villages still with multi-level cobbled streets and neatly aligned rows of houses. Villagers here are renowned for their complexly woven fabrics.

Another stop is in Klungkung town, with its moated gardens, a surviving remnant of an ancient royal palace. Once flourishing as a former kingdom of Bali prior to the arrival of the Dutch in the nineteenth century, it is here where the last king committed suicide along with the royal court rather than submit to the rule of European invaders.

Often overlooked by resort-bound tourists are the temple complexes of Tegeh Koripan and Ulan Danu Batur, spectacularly situated on Lake Batur in a lushly forested volcanic crater. PP&G guides make sure the group experiences the sunset here when dying rays of the sun bring a profound change of color and drama to the surrounding hills and vistas.

“We aspire to show guests the real Bali far from the crowded beaches and cocktail lounges. To the inquisitive voyager the true Bali is more than a legendary tropical paradise; it’s like Hawaii with Hindu temples not Hula girls. And if you are willing to go that extra distance it’s cheaper than Hawaii by a long shot,” says Tom Sheehan, founder and general manager.

Guests cycle on average 40 miles daily along paved roads with some stretches on narrow lanes. The terrain follows small coastal hills in the beginning with some larger climbs once in the volcanoes. Traffic is light to moderate at times.

Except for international air the trip is all inclusive of accommodations, most meals, professional guides, daily route directions and maps, sightseeing and cultural activities, plus airport transfers. Personal departures may be scheduled for private groups and bike clubs. More details can be found online at:
http://www.pedalerspubandgrille.com/bike_tours/indonesia/Bali_Paradise_Ride.htm

The active travel company with the funny name, Pedalers Pub & Grille (PP&G), calculates that a 7-day bike tour of Thailand is so much more reasonable than a comparable tour in France that there’s money enough left over for an extended stopover in Bangkok or Hong Kong plus a few beers and souvenirs.

“Contrary to popular belief, a bike tour in Thailand is far more economical than one in Europe,” says Tom Sheehan, PP&G founder and general manager. “Our seven-day Thailand cycle tour including the airfare from North America actually costs less than a similar bike tour in France before you even factor in the airfare.”

Sheehan is quick to point out, “You can also throw in the costs for a few ice cold Thai beers at dinner each night, some local handicrafts for souvenirs, plus a decent tip for your guides and still come out way ahead.”

Based on pricing for September 2008 departures, a comparable week long tour through the Dordogne or Loire regions of France begins at $3,055 plus air. A PP&G tour in Thailand starts at just $1,595 plus air. These rates reflect similar quality for hotels, meals and support services.

“And with the money you’ll save by not going to Europe, you can enjoy a weekend bike tour back home or perhaps explore more of Asia’s wonders with an extended stopover in Bangkok or Hong Kong or perhaps an add-on sea kayaking adventure in Ha Long Bay in Vietnam,” adds Sheehan.

PP&G has developed a web page detailing their price study and comparison. Please visit: www.pedalerspubandgrille.com/extras/thai-france.htm

PP&G offers its Thailand – Northern Highlights tour at $1,595 per person, double occupancy with departures scheduled the 1st and 3rd Sunday, monthly from September thru March. A single supplement is $375. Tours begin and end in Chiang Mai. See: www.pedalerspubandgrille.com/bike_tours/thailand/Northern_Highlights.htm

The rate includes accommodations in luxury hotels, guesthouses and resorts, all meals, bilingual guides, ground transportation, daily route directions and maps, sightseeing and cultural activities, plus airport transfers.

Tour highlights feature Wiang Kum Kam, ancient ruins from the first settlement of Chiang Mai; the expansive temple complex of Wat Baan Den; the towering limestone outcroppings of Chiang Dao; and the villages of the Paduang tribe (long neck women).

The PP&G website features a variety of similarly valued cycle tours of Thailand, including a week long multisport adventure exploring the Andaman Coast and a two-week Ancient Kingdoms Ride that takes in the ‘best’ of Thailand from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.

The active travel company with the funny name, Pedalers Pub & Grille (PP&G), announces a line of culturally rich, family-friendly, multi-sport adventures in Asia for 2009. Programs coincide with spring break, summer vacation and late year holidays.

Traveling at the speed of a bike, this is a great way for kids to learn about other cultures outside the classroom while having fun at the same time, says Tom Sheehan, founder and general manager.

“We get off the main tourist paths and invite more spontaneous interaction with the local people we meet. We’re as curious a sight to them as they are to us,” he says.

There’s paddling and hiking mixed in with the primary activity of cycling. The trips are:

Discover Bhutan, July 1 and Aug. 5 departures, 8 days, $3,395 adults, $2,995 ages 13 to 18 and college students up to age 25, $2,795 ages 8 to 12. Cycling is on small paved roads with little traffic, Class 2&3 whitewater rafting. Trips span 122 miles and average 31 miles daily.
www.pedalerspubandgrille.com/bike_tours/bhutan/Bhutan_Multisport.htm

Thailand Land & Sea, Mar. 23, Apr. 6 and Dec. 21 departures, 7 days, $1,795 adults, $1,625 ages 8 to 18, $1,525 ages 16 and under sharing room with 2 parents. Cycling is on paved roads with moderate traffic. Trips span 186 miles and average 46 miles daily.
www.pedalerspubandgrille.com/bike_tours/thailand/Thailand_Land_Sea.htm

Vietnam Highlights, Mar. 9, Apr. 13 and Dec. 23 departures, 10 days, $2,095 adults, $1,895 ages 8 to 18, $1,795 ages 16 and under sharing room with 2 parents. Cycling is on small paved roads with moderate traffic, some hills. Trips span 108 miles and average 27 miles daily. A junk cruise on Ha Long Bay and sea kayaking are part of adventure.
www.pedalerspubandgrille.com/bike_tours/vietnam/Highlights_Multisport.htm

Age 8 is the minimum to participate; younger children are accepted, but a parent must travel in the sag wagon with them and/or bring a trailer from home for the cycling.

The active travel company with the funny name, Pedalers Pub & Grille (PP&G), will host guests on three-week cycling trips of both New Zealand’s North and South islands beginning March 2009.

On the inaugural March 16 – April 4 and subsequent departures of “New Zealand – Grand Tour” cycling enthusiasts will explore colonial history and influence and delve into the native Maori culture. At the speed of two pedals guests will gawk at New Zealand’s natural wonders that qualify it as one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world.

“Our guides are all Kiwis, born and bred New Zealanders ready to reveal a few island secrets and share some tall tales over a local brew or two at day’s end.” says Tom Sheehan, founder and general manager. He notes that this is the only continuous cycle tour offered that takes in both the North & South Islands in one itinerary.

Accommodations for the 20-day adventure are in deluxe inns. Quiet coastlines, volcanoes, lakes and national parks, as well as wine tastings, are wrapped into the North Island experience. A ferry carries participants to the South Island where Queen Charlotte Sound, the Southern Alps, glaciers and the Tasman Sea treat riders to a ocean-to-sky landscape en route to historic Queenstown.

Except for international air, this active cycling adventure is all-inclusive at $5,995 (double) with a single supplement of $1,500. The tour begins in Auckland and ends in Queenstown.

The rate includes accommodations in luxury hotels, guesthouses and resorts, most meals, professional guides, full van support, daily route directions and maps, sightseeing and cultural activities, plus airport transfers. Personal departures may be scheduled for private groups and bike clubs with the most popular seasons being spring and fall.

Over the course of the trip, which is rated moderate in level of difficulty, cyclists will roll inn to inn covering 939 miles (1515 km), averaging 72 miles (116 km) per day.

More details can be found online at:
http://www.pedalerspubandgrille.com/bike_tours/new_zealand/Grand_Tour.htm